Tag Archives: Radio 1

MDNGHT‘s star keeps rising at a dizzy pace. Having played to an excited crowd at Radio 1′s Big Weekend – getting them to their feet and partying to their new single Breeze– enthusiastic support then followed from both TIME magazine and The Guardian.

Breeze is MDNGHT at their lithe best, melding contemporary dance and shimmering house with a glossy, sweet falsetto: encapsulating the euphoria of a late-summer sunset party – making this single a perfect post-holiday soundtrack.

Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens was won over by their performance, recognising MDNGHT’s dancefloor potential: “This’ll get the whole place bouncing… sounding wonderful!”

And TIME magazine, who premiered the video, enthusiastically noted Breeze’s, “flecks of guitar, piano stabs and wall-of-sound background vocals gathering around Jordan Lewin’s breathy falsetto,” confirming that the USA is just as receptive to MDNGHT’s “drifty, tropical dance music.”

Meanwhile, The Guardian – covering MDNGHT for the third time – praised Breeze‘s joyous pop appeal: “the uplifting chorus… is a brilliant way of making you fling your hands in the air.”

It’s the perfect follow-up to previous single, Into The Night, which hit the UK Club Chart top ten and was BBC Introducing Single of the Week on both Radio 1 & 1Xtra.

After their first free download, Virgin, sped to tens of thousands of plays via word-of-mouth in just a couple of weeks, HEYROCCO are stepping straight back into their new fans’ affections with their new single, Melt.

It’s another grungy and immediately catchy pop song from the South Carolina boys; it’s a wry song on a subject that… well, let’s say it’s one that many teenagers will have prematurely experienced.

And just as Virgin drew many flattering comparisons with rock giants of the early 90s – Melt shows off their ability to straddle the line between the twin thrills of killer melodies and fuzzy guitars.

Melt has been met with breathless praise from highly-respected sources:

“You know those perfect songs that soundtrack your summer of late nights, romance and hedonism? Well, HEYROCCO have just dropped one.” – Gigwise

“Heyrocco’s new single launches us right into 90’s teenage movie nostalgia. Like these Southern sweethearts, we admittedly might not have been the coolest kids in high school—but at least we can pretend like we were while listening to some 90’s inspired rock and roll.” – NYLON

Crafty young producer DEADBEAR is releasing his new single Wabi Sabi, taken from the EP of the same name.

This release comes after garnering a ton of acclaim from influencers as sharp as Bella Union’s Simon Raymonde, who played DEADBEAR on his Xfm radio show, Mary Anne Hobbs, who played it on BBC 6 Music,Jen Long and Ally McCrae, who spun Wabi Sabi on their BBC Radio 1 show.

Wabi Sabi‘s wonderfully dense and deep new single will please bass enthusiasts and lovers of complex electronic pop alike.

Wabi Sabi arrives hot on the heels of his highly-fêted collaboration with Alex Hewett from art-rock darlings Egyptian Hip Hop and his brilliant official remix for Memphis Industries’ Barbarossa.

Straw Bear, over at the BBC Introducing stage, trade in dreamy acoustic pop. Sweet nuggets such as ‘Kitty’ take the sounds of Americana and bring them back to Blighty. Their Midlake-meets-Doves twang makes them perfect for a mid-afternoon set, sounding as cosy as your favourite duvet. Their warmth and familiarity bring compulsory smiles.

The band’s appearance in their pages marks another step in their rapid ascent: both national and regional radio DJs, magazines and a swarm of influential blogs are all enthusing over them and their new single, Snobbery.

Snobbery has already grabbed radio play from Tom Robinson, Jen Long & Ally McCrae,Gary Crowley… and a string of plays on Amazing Radio. It is out on the 5th August.

The Minx have been effortlessly selling out venues in their home town of Manchester for months – and each gig has been bigger and better than the last.

It’s for a good reason! The Minx don’t sound like the Mancunian bands you’d expect, but have still connected with the youth in the manner you’d hope.

Word of mouth has spread the news about The Minx’s gigs quickly around town, their young acolytes packing shows to the rafters. (Word has also reached as far as Los Angeles, where Mike Davies has played them on his BBC Radio 1 show.)

And kids have found kindred spirits in The Minx. They’re lads you’d like to meet in the pub: smart, sharp-dressed, unpretentious and fun… but with the wit, brilliant pop tunes, snappy lyrics and infectious enthusiasm that have filled dancefloors citywide.

Echoes of fellow Mancunians The Buzzcocks & pop-punk pioneers The Undertones shoot through their short ‘n’ sweet paeans to the joys of real life.

Chris Haddon, singer and guitarist, says that there’s no huge secret to The Minx’s successful recipe of pop-noise:

“We’re just five best mates from Wythenshawe interested in all the cultures around us and everyday life – we all love Punk, Reggae, Soul, New Wave, and Pop, and it all comes out in the music we make. It’s Frank Sinatra meets Joe Strummer with a good backbeat!”

They’re a gang, not a band, he says. Right now, the gang is growing fast.

“I listened to [The Minx] one more time, decided I liked it and bought it”­ – Mike Davies, BBC Radio 1“The most exciting new band I have heard in years; a ferocious live proposition”­ –Pete Jobson, I Am Kloot“The Minx – the best thing to come out of Manchester since Oasis”­ – Sabotage Times“Their star will continue to rise over the next 12 months”­ – John Robb, Louder Than War

After garnering rave reviews from the likes of Radio 1, Radio 2, 6Music and Xfm, My Albatross retreated into the studio to polish their artillery and work on their follow-up single. The time is now right, and after redoubling their efforts to become a major name on the uk alt-rock scene, their second single, Rich Man’s Daughter, arms the boys with everything they’ll need to take on the music industry (and probably the world too). Glasgow born Dave takes lead vocals again in this punchy 2 minute affair.

The other track ‘I Don’t Love You’, has Sam lending his haunting vocal, which could compare to the fragility of Anthony Hegarty from Anthony and The Johnsons. Check out the recently surfaced ‘unofficial video’, which I’m sure you’ll agree hits just the right note!

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Out Now!

“…West Country Jamie T or Eminem…”Q Magazine

“Cosmo Jarvis has made an album of teenage angst and the like and it’s perfectly adequate. But he has a new song called ‘Gay Pirates’ which hints at a deeper talent. It’s vivid, violent and the most tragically moving love song we’ve heard all year….evidence we might have a miniature Tom Waits on our hands ”

Dan Martin, NME Magazine Sept ‘09

“His debut album is a crammed double album of teenage angst, desire and social comment. It’s a bold intriguing mess that suggests he has an exciting future”

Neil McCormick, Daily Telegraph Nov ‘09

“Inarguably gifted he makes films as well as writing, playing and brilliantly engineering his inventive music. A fab new talent with imagination overload.”

James McNair, MOJO, Nov ‘09

“A man who believes in letting everything out. His debut album comes across as a daffy West Country Jamie T or Eminem”

Ian Harrison, Q, Nov ‘09

“Jarvis has the potential to be a future Springsteen. Certainly his songs would do the young Boss proud. One of the best debuts of the year and a force to watch in the years ahead ”

Daily Mirror, Oct 30th ‘09

“A veritable one man band his toe tapping and foot stomping tales of love and lust slot in well with the modern troubadours such as Jamie T and Frank Turner. His confidence reigns on this accomplished double album ”

AOL Music online Oct ‘09

“It’s a completely extraordinary record – it’s homemade, all by himself. He shot a video himself for a total cost of £125 which looks like a really really great cinematic black and white movie”

Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music

Championed by the undeniably influential Zane Lowe (Radio 1), Cosmo’s self-titled debut album is almost guaranteed to make waves. This young, new, self-reliant artist doesn’t believe in conformity, cop-outs or half measures. With so many ideas, musical styles and inspiration pumping through his 19-year old imagination it is little wonder that his eponymous album was going to be anything other than an unconventional affair. The two disc album delves into every corner of the teenage mind, from upbeat, poppier tracks such as Jessica Alba’s Number, She’s Got You and Crazy Screwed Up Lady to the darker, more sinister Mummy’s Been Drinking and Problems. Utilising everything from recorders to banjos, Cosmo Jarvis proves beyond reasonable doubt that he is the musical troubadour we always suspected he was!

Cosmo is also a film-maker, and contributes regularly to Babelgum and YouTube. Check out his videos for ‘She’s got You’, which was his first single and ‘Problems’ (see post below), from his current single.